Skip Global Navigation to Main Content
  •  
Skip Breadcrumb Navigation
Skip Left Navigation
General Information
 

Immigrant Visas (IVs) allow a citizen of another country to enter the United States to live and work there on a permanent basis.  Except for Diversity Visas (DVs), all IVs require a petition to be filed with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services http://www.uscis.gov/ through the Department of Homeland Security. 

Under U.S. law, IVs are generally reserved for persons who are either immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, or who have been hired to work in jobs that the government has determined cannot be filled by U.S. citizens due to a shortage of Americans with the skills needed to perform these jobs.  Most immigration to the United States is initiated by an immediate relative or employer who submits a petition on the applicant’s behalf in the United States. 

Diversity Visas (DVs) are issued as part of a lottery program which is governed by very strict rules of entry and issuance.  Applicants must be selected as part of a random drawing in order to qualify for further processing.  For more information regarding DVs, please visit: http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/visas/diversity-visa-lottery-program.html.

For more information regarding rules and procedures, legal permanent residency, petition-based visas of all types, and forms, please visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website at http://www.uscis.gov/ or the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov/. 

The following websites may also be helpful for more information on types of visas, entry procedures and consular services: 

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the quality and acuuracy of the visa information contained on this website, all content is subject to change without notice.

Every application for a visa is based on its own merits. Our website is only able to provide general information regarding visa types and application processes. Visa application instructions clearly state that there is no guarantee that you will be issued a visa for travel to the United States if you should choose to apply.

The Consular Section handles all matters related to American Citizen Services and visas for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. For information on American Citizen Services http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/service.html. The above table shows the standard hours of operation for visa services at the U.S. Embassy.